Brigham Young University. Multicultural Education Dept.

The Multicultural Education Center was established in 1978 to administer and conduct special programs for minority students, specifically Polynesians, Mexican-Americans, and blacks, who are United States citizens. Following university policy, every effort is made to include these students in the mainstream of student life at BYU. Classes are offered with smaller enrollments to allow instructors to give more individual attention to students who need special help and encouragement. Tutoring is available in the academic subjects and in English if that is appropriate. Financial assistance counseling, experienced minority counseling, tutorial assistance, career and curriculum advisement, housing assistance, and minority clubs are just a few of the ways help is offered. A particular opportunity available for minority students was the precollege orientation program offered each summer. Multicultural Education existed to prepare minority and international students to succeed in college work and to make meaningful contributions to society and to provide these students with certain support functions necessary to their welfare at the university. These functions include assistance to international students and scholars, assistance in securing financial help, tutoring, academic advisement, and limited work0study opportunities. Gail S. Halvorsen was the Acting Director (1982-1983). Virgus Con Osborne was the Chairman (1983-1986). In 1987, Multicultural Education was renamed and restructured to become Multicultural Programs under Max W. Swenson in Student Life.

Variant names

Multicultural Education Center

Dept. of Multicultural Education

Multicultural Education Department

Description

Established: 1978

Abolished: 1986

Location: Provo, Utah (1978-1986)

Functions

Multicultural Education functions as a help center. It provides tutoring, counseling, financial assistance counseling, career and curriculum advisement, housing assistance, minority clubs, and personalized education to minority students. It functioned as part of Student Life and apart of Nonmajor Programs (1984-1986). The department was divided into four main areas: International Student Office, Academic Services, Student Services, and Financial Aids from at least 1984-1986. Subordinate units included Financial Aids, Native American Studies, Student Clubs, Student Services, and Student Publications from at least 1983-1984.

Assets and Administrative Structure

Multicultural Education functioned with an Acting Director in Student Life. In 1983 the structure of Multicultural Education was changed to function under a Chairman. Multicultural Education was changed to Multicultural Programs in 1987.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University. Student Life (1978- )

Associated unit: Brigham Young University. Nonmajor Programs (1984-1986)

Later unit: Brigham Young University. Multicultural Programs (1987-1989) (1987-1989)

Associated Archival Materials

The development and implementation of a university course of instruction in multicultural education. (L 97.022 .M535, 378.22 M584)

Sources

Brigham Young University General Catalog of Courses 1982-1983: p. 328 (Established in 1978; Purpose was to conduct special programs for minority students; Mainly served Polynesians, Mexican-Americans, and blacks who were US citizens; Had smaller-enrollment classes; Tutored, gave financial assistance counseling, experienced minority counseling, career and curriculum advisement, housing assistance, and minority clubs; Gail S. Halvorsen was the Acting Director from 1982-1983)

Brigham Young University General Catalog of Courses 1984-1985: p. 274 (Indian Student Services and International Office are subordinates; called a department) p. 244-245 (Divided into four main areas: International Student Office, Academic Services, Student Services, and Financial Aids; listed as a Nonmajor Program)

Brigham Young University General Catalog of Courses 1983-1984: p. 328 (V. Con Osborne was Chairman; Precollege orientation program offered each summer)

Brigham Young University Telephone Directory 1985-1986: p. 84 (Virgus C. Osborne was part of Student Life; Purpose was to prepare minority and international students to succeed in college and make meaningful contributions to society; Provide assistance; Functions)

Brigham Young University General Catalog of Courses 1986-1987: p. 288 (renamed Multicultural Programs)

Brigham Young University Telephone Directory 1987-1988: p. 32 (Max W. Swenson headed up Multicultural Programs in 1987 in Student Life)

Brigham Young University Telephone Directory 1983-1984: p. 34 (Multicultural Education Department; Subordinates: Financial Aids, Native American Studies, Student Clubs, Student Services, Student Publications)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2011-00045

Creator: UPB